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Our Story

MASTER BOOTMAKERS SINCE 1927

Le Chameau are the only rubber boots to be handmade by a single master bootmaker, each pair is unique. Using the highest quality materials and with a range of iconic and innovative styles, Le Chameau Maîtres Bottiers have been making our boots by hand for over 90 years. Our processes are a unique combination of traditional skills, passed from generation to generation, and technical innovation which has kept us at the forefront of our craft. Over time technology, flair and craftsmanship have created collections for all occasions – for town and country. Discerning men and women all over the world are devotees of Le Chameau boots.

Le Chameau Timeline

1927

1939

1949

TODAY

The Le Chameau story begins on a rainy day in Cherbourg in 1927.

Mr Chamot set out to create a new type of boot, that would withstand the rigours of the countryside, and at sea. Fashioning his prototypes from natural rubber, he asked those around him to test them.

Before long, customers from all over France were coming to his store to be fitted for their own bespoke boots.

In 1949 Mr Chamot was sufficiently confident to invest in a new factory - in Casablanca, Morocco, where Normandy trained bottiers ensured the Chamot standards were upheld.

In 1950, Mr Chamot combined the expertise of the maitre bottier with that of the saddler to create the Saint-Hubert- the first rubber boot to have a leather lining. The Saint-Hubert became a mark of discernment among country professionals and remains so, more than 60 years later.

Today, Le Chameau continues to set the standards of performance for all rubber boots. Mr Chamot would still feel at home in the ateliers. It still takes nine months of intensive training to become a Le Chameau Maître bottier; It is this commitment to skill and dedication to craft that truly sets the brand and its products apart.

Claude Chamot, had spent the day listening to his customers, farmers, hunters and fishermen complaining that their boots were neither comfortable, not durable. So he decided to do something about it.

Comfortable and hard-wearing, everyone who tried them loved them. Making pioneering use of vulcanisation for greater durability, the boots were improved and refined, and gradually Mr Chamots' reputation grew.

By 1939, Mr Chamot had acquired a workshop in Normandy and produced his boots on a larger scale. His craftsmen maintained the exceptional quality that ensured his reputation.

To mark the expansion, and with a nod to Morocco, Mr Chamot renamed his company Le Chameau (the camel), relishing the opportunity for word-play.

Equally trail-blazing was Mr Chamots' belief in the importance of customer service. Owners' treasured boots were refurbished by a specialist team, today they are covered by a 2-year warranty.

Meanwhile, appeal for Le Chameau grows. From outdoor professionals and connoisseurs, who rely on the comfort and performance, to style-conscious rural and urban consumers. All appreciate Le Chameau quality. Le Chameau has new devotees in every country of the world.

Le Chameau Timeline

1927

1939

1949

TODAY

The Le Chameau story begins on a rainy day in Cherbourg in 1927.

Claude Chamot, had spent the day listening to his customers, farmers, hunters and fishermen complaining that their boots were neither comfortable, not durable. So he decided to do something about it.

Mr Chamot set out to create a new type of boot, that would withstand the rigours of the countryside, and at sea. Fashioning his prototypes from natural rubber, he asked those around him to test them.

Comfortable and hard-wearing, everyone who tried them loved them. Making pioneering use of vulcanisation for greater durability, the boots were improved and refined, and gradually Mr Chamots' reputation grew.

By 1939, Mr Chamot had acquired a workshop in Normandy and produced his boots on a larger scale. His craftsmen maintained the exceptional quality that ensured his reputation.

In 1949 Mr Chamot was sufficiently confident to invest in a new factory - in Casablanca, Morocco, where Normandy trained bottiers ensured the Chamot standards were upheld.

To mark the expansion, and with a nod to Morocco, Mr Chamot renamed his company Le Chameau (the camel), relishing the opportunity for word-play.

In 1950, Mr Chamot combined the expertise of the Maître bottier with that of the saddler to create the Saint-Hubert- the first rubber boot to have a leather lining. The Saint-Hubert became a mark of discernment among country professionals and remains so, more than 60 years later.

Equally trail-blazing was Mr Chamot's belief in the importance of customer service. Owners treasured boots were refurbished by a specialist team, just as they are today.

Today, Le Chameau continues to set the standards of performance for all rubber boots. M. Chamot would still feel at home in the ateliers. It still takes nine months of intensive training to become a Le Chameau Maître bottier; It is this commitment to skill and dedication to craft that truly sets the brand and its products apart.

Meanwhile, Le Chameau's appeal grows. From outdoor professionals and connoisseurs, who rely on the comfort and performance, to style-conscious rural and urban consumers. All appreciate Le Chameau quality. Le Chameau has new devotees in every country of the world.